Macworld posted a new article today showing the performance of a BTO Mac mini with a 2.7GHz Core i7 processor and a 256GB SSD. Needless to say, this machine did quite well in their series of testing. It outperformed the two base models of the 2011 Mac mini by a significant margin in just about every test. It even smoked past the entry-level 21.5" iMac in tests depending on hard drive performance. This boost in performance doesn't come cheap though. The BTO Mac mini prices out at $1499, which is $700 more than the base 2.5GHz Core i5 Mac mini and $300 more than the entry-level 21.5" iMac. That isn't exactly a value proposition for most people, but it's still fun to see how they compare. So, head on over to Macworld for all the details.

Those benchmarks do prove that the 2.7ghz Mac Mini is a speedy beast, but it does much more to prove that an SSD makes a huge difference in performance. It is obvious that if you go the do it yourself route you can get that performance at a fraction of the price. Apple SSDs are horribly overpriced. Also, you do not have to get such a large SSD to get that kind of a performance punch. You can do the same with a 120gb SSD for much less._________________Proud Cube owner. Oh, I also own a 2011 2.7ghz i7 Mac Mini.

Nice, but I hope Apple goes with a quad-core i7 and ATI graphics in the next round of updates. Then I will pop a 6G SSD in there from OWC or Crucial for a hundred or so dollars less than Apple. That should make for a nice little system around the $1000 mark.

I'm going to upgrade my server to dual solid state drives as soon as I save up enough money. It's going to be great! Not that it stinks now, but they just take it to the next level._________________2011 Mac mini with 8GB of RAM
2012 Mac mini Server with 16GB of RAM
46" Sony TV
24" HP LCD
Apple wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse
2 x 1TB MiniStacks
1TB MiniStack Max

You know, this story got me thinking that it is going to be really nice to upgrade to a high capacity SSD when the prices come down and I want to see a big speed bump. Right now the 120gb SSD drives are what I consider affordable. How long will it be before a 500gb SSD will be as affordable? I don't really know the answer to that, but if it doesn't happen in five years I will be surprised._________________Proud Cube owner. Oh, I also own a 2011 2.7ghz i7 Mac Mini.

You know, this story got me thinking that it is going to be really nice to upgrade to a high capacity SSD when the prices come down and I want to see a big speed bump. Right now the 120gb SSD drives are what I consider affordable. How long will it be before a 500gb SSD will be as affordable? I don't really know the answer to that, but if it doesn't happen in five years I will be surprised.

I was really hoping for more cuts this summer, but prices have sort of leveled off. At least when it comes to 240GB and above drives.